Sithalapakkam Mrithika Brindavana

Raghavendra Temple, located in a lane in Sithalapakkam, the southern outskirts of Chennai, is lesser-known. Though it is a new temple, it has many unique features. Hence, I wanted to write about this site in my blog.

Unlike other typical Raghavendra temples that are associated with Pejawar or other Madhwa mutts, this one is a private temple.

The sanctum enshrines Mrithika Brindavana and a big icon of Sri Raghavendra. The five feet high gigantic image of Raghavendra has Rama in the chest and Narasimha above the head. Usually, in Raghavendra temples, only the Brindavana is found and not the icon of Raghavendra (Nijarupa Raghavendra). 

(For the benefit of beginners...Mrithika is a mixture of sand and clay from the Main Mantralaya Temple. The Brindavans that are built in other regions with this sanctified mrithika are called Mrithika Brindavans. Brindavan is a holy resting place of Madhwa saints.)

On the narrow circumambulation (prakara) around the sanctum, Lakshmi Hayagreeva, Santhana Gopala and Anjaneya are found as Koshta deities. 

In the sanctum, the bronze icon of Prahalada is found. Besides this, small stone icons of Rama-Sita-Lakshmana, Hanuman and Vyasaraja are also there.

No other Raghavendra temple has the other deities as found in this temple. There is a large marble icon of Sai Baba. A big Mukha Linga with Nandi, VyasaRaja Veera Anjaneya and Navagrahas are also located in the temple.

At the entrance of the main shrine, Ganesha and the Grama Devta Manjalamma are found.

Happy travelling.